July 28, 2003

Dear Friends

In my last letter I promised to tell you about our cruise across the Atlantic, the blond taxi driver we witnessed to in New Orleans, our Bible Studies on the cruise, how God helped us in London, and our wonderful visit in France. Alta and I flew from Louisville, KY to New Orleans to board the Grandeur of the Seas for a 16 day cruise to Harwich, England from where we flew to Toulouse, France for a three weeks visit with John and Judy, Philip and Amanda and to see, for the first time, our great granddaughters Abigail and Natalie.

Blonde Taxi Driver

From the airport we took a special taxi to the dock. Our driver was a blond mother of two. I began to talk to her of Jesus as we traveled across town. She showed deep interest in what I was saying and said, "Please keep talking, I want to hear." She listened intently but when I got on the subject of God¹s perfect forgiveness and explained that He never remembers our sins when we have trusted Jesus as Savior, the Holy Spirit opened her heart and the immediate change that took place in her spirit was like a miracle. Satan had trapped her in her guilt about past happenings and now she realized that she had suffered much for remembering the things God did not because they were washed away forever by the blood of Jesus. The blond who left us at the dock was different than the one who picked us up at the airport.

Cruising Across the Atlantic

While a merchant seaman I had crossed the Atlantic many times. This trip was special to me because I always loved the sea and it was special because Alta and I had never had a special time like together. There were stops at Bermuda, Azores, Lisbon (Portugal), Zeebruge (Belgium) and Harwich, England.

Opportunities to Witness on Board

I had prepared a visual of the three crosses to take along for evangelizing. At Bermuda we met Sinclair and Gilda, Baptists, at the Sunday morning worship service. He arranged an area on the ship where we could have a Bible Study each morning at nine o¹clock. There were four or five mornings of Bible Study and I brought studies from the book of Hebrews.

The purser¹s department made copies of study outlines and would not charge for their service. During the trip we had the joy of witnessing to many people, both passengers and crew. Praise the Lord.

Beginning of a Stroke

On our last morning aboard we were having breakfast. When I picked up my plate to go to the buffet, it happened. My right hand holding the plate went numb. "Strange", I thought. Then the forearm went numb and in a few seconds my entire arm and shoulder were completely without feeling. I could not hold even a piece of paper between my fingers. I began moving my arm back and forth, massaging it with my left hand and walking briskly around the deck. (In a matter of seconds God taught me how very weak we are in our own strength.)

Our bags had been packed and taken for unloading the night before. We proceeded to unloading area, caught a taxi for the three hour trip to Gatwick Airport in London. Upon arriving we discovered that there was a flight for Toulouse at one o'clock p.m. and our flight was at eight o'clock p.m. I was not feeling too well and talked to one of the men in charge and asked if there was room on the earlier flight. He informed us there was no possibility of changing. We got in line to make our check in and get rid of our baggage. God still has His angels to care for us. I told the lady who attended us about the earlier flight and that I was not feeling well.

She looked at the passages and said, "But your flight is not for today; it is for tomorrow night. Let me see what I can do."

She called one person. No soap. She called another... and waited...held up her hand in a gesture of hope...waited... and then the answer came. "Yes, you will fly at one o'clock, today." In less than two hours we were on our way to Toulouse. The kind lady advised, "Do not mention your problem, they may want to take you to the hospital."

An hour of flight later we were thrilled to see John and Judy waiting for us. "I will never forsake you nor abandon you as an orphan."

Well, I did not get to our visit in France, Lord willing, we will make it next letter.

Lovingly yours in Christ

John and Alta Hatcher